Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF), and commander, Allied Joint Forces Command Naples (JFC), held a change of command ceremony on Naval Support Activity Naples in Naples, Italy, Feb. 24, where Adm. Bruce W. Clingan relieved Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III. Among the dignitaries an
United States Ambassador to Australia, Jeffrey Bleich, and US Consul General in Perth, Aleisha Woodward, today visited Austal’s Henderson facility. There they met with Austal’s Chairman John Rothwell after touring the facility where the designs for the US Navy’s Independence-variant Littoral Combat
Portsmouth-based warship HMS Illustrious has been working with counterparts from the Danish military during a four-day visit to Copenhagen. The ship hosted a Lynx helicopter from the Royal Danish Air Force for several hours of flight deck drills. Among the helicopter crew was Lieutenant Richard Dixo
Members of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, embarked aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97), met with Russian leadership aboard the Russian anti-submarine warfare ship Admiral Tributs, Feb. 19. The meeting gave the two naval leaders the opportunity to discuss counter-piracy operations and
The U.S. Navy has exercised contract options funding the construction of the eighth and ninth Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), as part of a ten-ship program potentially worth over US$1.6 billion. The construction contract for these vessels is valued at approximately US$321.7 million. Austal USA’s Pre
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. announced today that its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division has received a $383 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, level-of-effort contract option to continue planning work for the refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abrah
Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Juan Garcia held a town hall meeting at Naval Base Coronado, Feb. 22. Sailors from the area attended the meeting, which covered a range of topics including Enlisted Retention Board (ERB), transitioning Sailors as well as Perform-to-Ser
Rear Admiral Duncan Potts welcomed His Excellency President James Michel of the Seychelles; Mr Joel Morgan, his Minister for Home Affairs, Environment and Transport; the Hon Crispus Kiyonga, Ugandan Minister of Defence; Lt Gen Katuma Wamala, Commander Land Forces of the Ugandan Army; and Maj Gen Pau
Royal Navy Fishery Protection Vessel HMS Mersey was joined by her sister ships HMS Severn and HMS Tyne for the annual Fishery Protection Squadron Exercise last week. The exercise saw the ships put through their paces in a series of challenging combined evolutions at sea as well as team-building and
Members of the Submarine Parachute Assistance Group (SPAG) from all three Services have been putting their parachuting skills to the test in Gibraltar this week. The Group’s main task is to deploy a team of people with escape and rescue knowledge to the scene of a submarine in distress – and to do s
On 22 February 2012, the EU NAVFOR combat support warship FGS BERLIN responded to a distress signal from a tanker that was under attack by suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden. On receipt of the radio call the FGS BERLIN immediately dispatched her two Seaking helicopters to the area while she close
NORWAY-based boat handling system and specialised davit supplier Vestdavit has been contracted by shipbuilder Austal to supply its state-of-the-art PLAR-6500 davits to eight new Cape Class Patrol Boats (CCPBs) to be built for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. Austal will build th
The vice chief of naval operations (VCNO) concluded a three-day engagement visit to Canberra and Darwin, Australia, Feb. 21. Adm. Mark Ferguson met with Chief of the Australian Navy Vice Adm. Ray Griggs and U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey L. Bleich, toured naval facilities, and delivered remarks to students
Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) announced the selection of its 2011 Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year Feb. 21. NAVFAC Commander Rear Adm. Christopher J. Mossey announced Utilitiesman 1st Class (SCW) Patrick Cunningham from Naval Support Unit, State Department was named as the Sea Sailo
